The environment minister has said that Thames Water, one of the largest water companies in the UK, had not paid out dividends to its shareholders in five years. Rebecca Pow, Conservative MP for Taunton Deane, was responding to an urgent question about the future of Thames Water, which is currently enduring financial difficulties. It later emerged that Thames Water may have been handing out dividends to the shareholders but not in a way that is more able to avoid detection. Watch more from Independent TV at https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/editors-picks Click here to subscribe to The Independent: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: null Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.theindy.com/ Click here to get the best of The Independent daily: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Like The Independent on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/TheIndependentOnline Follow The Independent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Independent Follow The Independent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.independent Download the iOS & Android app: https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/app Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donations Subscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content & live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB